Glances: Command Injection via KVM/QEMU VM Domain Names in glances/plugins/vms/engines/virsh.py
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-78.
Summary
Glances is an open-source system cross-platform monitoring tool. Prior to 4.5.5, the Glances KVM/QEMU monitoring engine (glances/plugins/vms/engines/virsh.py) passes VM domain names, read directly from virsh list --all output, into f-string command templates that are processed by secure_popen(). secure_popen() is explicitly designed to interpret &&, |, and > as shell operators. Because domain names are never sanitised before interpolation, any user with the ability to create or rename a KVM/QEMU virtual machine can execute arbitrary commands as the OS user running Glances — commonly root on hypervisor hosts. This vulnerability is fixed in 4.5.5.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| nicolargo | glances | before 4.5.5 | 4.5.5 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | glances (PyPI) | before 4.5.5 | 4.5.5 | Patch available | GHSA-v5r2-qh84-fjx5 |
- glances Vendornicolargo Affected before 4.5.5 Fixed in 4.5.5 Patch available CNA
- glances (PyPI) Vendor— Affected before 4.5.5 Fixed in 4.5.5 Patch available GHSA-v5r2-qh84-fjx5
Remediation
- Fix · CNA glances (nicolargo) Fixed in 4.5.5
- Fix · GHSA-v5r2-qh84-fjx5 glances (PyPI) Fixed in 4.5.5 Advisory →
Vendor assessments
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-46606
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-v5r2-qh84-fjx5
References
Advisory 2
More nicolargo vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-25142 Glances's Browser API Exposes Reusable Downstream Credentials via `/api/4/serverslist` CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
- TI-2026-25106 Glances exposes the REST API without authentication CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
- TI-2026-48284 Glances: Command injection bypass of action-template sanitizer via cross-field shell-operator reconstruction CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.8
- TI-2026-44988 OS command injection in nicolargo glances CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2026-27083 Glances Vulnerable to Cross-Origin Information Disclosure via Unauthenticated REST API (/api/4) due to Permissive CORS CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.7
- TI-2026-25120 Glances has a SQL Injection in DuckDB Export via Unparameterized DDL Statements CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
Sources
- CVE-2026-46606 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-46606 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-v5r2-qh84-fjx5 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-46606 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences